Shoe-lace fastener.



No. 727,500. BATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

L. VAN ORSDALE.

SHOE LACE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 17. 1902.

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UNTTnD STATES Patented'May 5, 1903.

LYNN VAN ORSDALE, OF KANE, PENNSYLVANIA.

-SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,500, d ted. May 5, 1903.

Application filed June 17,1902. Serial No. 112,090. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYNN VAN ORSDALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kane, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Lace Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoe-lace fasteners.

The object of the invention is to providea simple and effective device which may be readily applied to a shoe or the like and which in use will obviate the tying or knotting the two ends of the lace together, which will prevent the uncomfortable binding across the front portion of the ankle consequent upon too tight drawing of the lace ends, and in which the liability of the accidental loosening of the lace ends will be reduced to a minimum.

lrVith these and other objects in view, as will appear as the object of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a shoe-lace fastener, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and.in.which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the front portion of a shoe-upper, exhibiting the lace-fastener of this invention applied to one side thereof. Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section through the fastener and the shoe-upper. Fig. 3 is 'aplanview of the fastener-blank. Fig. 4 is a view from the rear side of the fastener after the same has been bent up to shape to be attached to the shoe.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 3 thereof, 1 designates, generally, the fastener, comprising a body 2, a guard 3, and a spring locking tongue 4, all of these parts being integral and stamped up from a piece of sheet metal; The body and the guard are approximately elliptical in shape, and the former is provided with a plurality of poripherally-disposed prongs 5 to be inserted in the leather of the upper to attach the device thereto and with a longitudinally-disposed slot 6, in which the free terminal of the tongue is adapted to fit.

In shaping the fastener for use the guard is bent in a curve over the body and the tongue bent inward beneath the guard, the forward end of the tongue being formed with a crotch or loop 7 to interlock with the front terminal wall 8 of the slot 6, thereby to hold the tongue in operative position with relation to the body. When the parts are thus formed to shape, the tongue will occupy the full length of the slot 6 and being of less width-than the same will leave a space on each side, as at 9 in Fig. at, into which the shoestring will be pinched or forced, and thus be held securely associated with the fastener.

In associating the fastener with a shoe-upper the prongs are passed therethrough and clenched in the usual manner, the crotched end of the tongue being disposed toward the slit of the upper. When the shoe-lace is forced in between the tongue and the body, it moves the tongue out of engagement with the slot; but as soon as tension is removed from thelace the tongue again reseats itself in the slot, thereby clamping the lace between its edges and the walls of the slot and effecting thereby a positive fastening of the lace. Under the motion of the anklein walking the lace will be constantly forced toward the crotched end of the tongue, and thereby be more securely clamped in place.

While the device of this invention is exceedingly simple of construction, it will be found thoroughly efficient in use for the purpose designed and may be manufactured and applied to a pair of shoes without adding any appreciable cost to their production.

While but a single fasteneris herein shown, it is to be understood that there is one to be employed on each side of the shoe-upper, and as this will be Well understood illustration is not thought to be necessary.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is' r g 1. A shoe-lace fastener comprising a body portion provided with attaching means and with a longitudinally-disposed slot, a guard,

and a resilient tongue of less width than and disposed within the slot, the free end of the tongue being provided with means to interlock with the forward terminal Wall of the slot.

2. A-shoe-lace fastener comprising a body portion provided with attaching means and with a longitudinally-disposed wedge-shaped slot, a guard, and a resilient tongue carried by the guard and of less Width than and disposed within the slot, the free end of the tongue being provided with a crotch to interlock with the forward terminal Wall of the slot.

3. A shoe-lace fastener comprising a substantially elliptical body portion provided LYNN VAN ORSDALE.

Witnesses:

G. G. GRIFFITHS, O. V. GILLIs. 

